First general meeting
Members approved the association’s leadership and its main areas of work.
Tsameret at Duna’s season opening
At Duna’s season opening, the association introduced its programmes. Around thirty people signed up for future activities.
Rubén Gallego’s philosophy club opens
About 80 people came to Duna for the opening of our philosophy club. Writer Rubén Gallego welcomed readers to a series of conversations about books and cinema. We met again in January and February. The three evenings gave readers in Ashdod a chance to get to know the author and ask him questions in person.
Hanukkah painting workshop with Irina Polevaya
Grandmothers came with their grandchildren, and families worked side by side at Irina Polevaya’s Hanukkah workshop at Duna. Irina showed everyone how to build a pattern out of tiny dots of paint. Children and adults painted spinning tops and decorated Hanukkah lamps. The room rang with children’s laughter as the patterns took shape.
Open in calendar ↗An evening with Rubén Gallego at Duna
Rubén Gallego welcomed readers to Duna’s small hall. Following Freaks, we chose Red Torpedo for the January programme. In this Italian documentary by Mara Chiaretti, Rubén tells his own story. Readers could talk to him in person, bring a favourite book for him to sign or buy one at the meeting and take it home with his autograph.
Photos from the evening
Open chess on the promenade
The association set up chessboards on the promenade and invited passers-by to try the game and meet the club.
Giant chess on the promenade
Children, teenagers and families played with giant chess pieces on the Ashdod promenade.
The philosophy club meets again
Rubén Gallego hosted our February club meeting at Duna. Ashdod residents and members of the association gathered for the third evening in the series that began in December. We served tea and refreshments so guests could stay and talk together.
Opening of the Tsameret–Duna chess club
About 70 people joined us at Duna. International master Boris Maryasin and national master Anton Rakhmilevich moved from board to board, playing children and adults in simultaneous exhibitions. Our guests included deputy mayor Shimon Katznelson, city culture portfolio holder Ofir Lasri, Duna director Marina Wexler and Ashdod Chess Club director Arkady Ryabukhin. Oren Tavil, chief executive of the municipal culture and leisure company, joined the players at a board.
Tsameret Media interviews Rubén Gallego
Irina Pospelova interviewed writer Rubén Gallego at his home for Tsameret Media. They talked about education and culture, about inclusion and the part people with disabilities play in community projects. After the meetings he had led at Duna, the recording gave readers outside Ashdod a chance to hear him for themselves.
Watch Irina Pospelova’s interview from 35:23 ↗Behind the scenes with Rubén Gallego ↗Around one table in Ashdod
In February we brought members of the association together for a meal. On 9 May we set the table again in Ashdod. Older residents and people with disabilities joined members of the association for our second community meal.
FIDE teacher education course
From 12 to 14 June, Nikita Bezman, Shabtai Ishmailov and Mikhail Tsygankov took part in the FIDE EDU Preparation of Teachers Course.
Chess in Tel Aviv
Association representatives took part in a public chess activity in Tel Aviv.
Chess with residents of the City housing complex
At the City residence, 39 HaTsiyonut Street in Ashdod, residents and visitors from Tsameret sat together for chess and conversation.
Community gathering in Mishtara Park
Tsameret joined a community gathering in Ashdod’s Mishtara Park and introduced visitors to its sports and educational activities.
Preparing for the City chess tournament
The club returned to the residence with chess sets and a demonstration board. Residents played together ahead of the August tournament.
Tournament and awards at the City residence
The residents’ hall hosted the last event in our series, an unrated chess tournament. The players recorded their moves and gathered for the presentation of cups and medals. Duna Community Centre helped us buy the awards.
General meeting at Duna in Ashdod
Members met at Beit HaNoar, 90 KKL Street, to review the association’s work and discuss the chess club and its sporting and social programmes.
Football and chess at Duna’s 2026/27 activity fair
At the start of the school year, Tsameret presented its football school and chess club to families at Duna Community Centre in Ashdod. At the stand, visitors could see the team kit, footballs and chess sets. Outside, children gathered around a giant chessboard.
